"On what grounds?" I said.
How it begins
"On what grounds?" I said.
„Mit welcher Begründung?", sagte ich.
He turned to me as if he had only just noticed I was there. "I wasn't talking to you, young man."
Er wandte sich mir zu, als hätte er erst jetzt bemerkt, dass ich da war. „Ich habe nicht mit Ihnen gesprochen, junger Mann."
"You're talking about my father. That makes it my business." Behind me twelve stall-holders had stopped working to listen. Twelve names, out of the twenty the council wanted by the eleventh, and Mr Pike had just brought five more across the square only to take them away.
„Sie sprechen über meinen Vater. Das geht mich etwas an." Hinter mir hatten zwölf Standbetreiber die Arbeit unterbrochen, um zuzuhören. Zwölf Namen von den zwanzig, die die Stadt bis zum Elften haben wollte, und Mr Pike hatte gerade fünf weitere über den Platz gebracht, nur um sie wieder wegzunehmen.
Languages
- The Man by the Fire · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,251 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Der Mann am Feuer · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,201 words · ~15 min · Audio
- El hombre junto al fuego · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,151 words · ~15 min · Audio
- L’homme près du feu · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,559 words · ~15 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read The Man by the Fire in?
English, German, Spanish and French. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?
The original English is B2 Intermediate. In translation, German, Spanish and French are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,251 words: around 15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?
Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.